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"A Tetris to be able to fit everything together." This is how Maite Maiora (Mendaro, Gipuzkoa, November 13, 1983) defines each of her days. As a local police officer, he combines rotating morning, afternoon and night shifts. As a Vibram athlete, he does five- to eight-hour workouts and alternating strength sessions in the gym. That dedication between her profession and her passion has made her the winner of the Ultra-Trail des Chevaliers, the longest race of the Trail Alsace Grand Est by UTMB. No less than 175 kilometers.

To get an idea, it is a distance very similar to that separating Madrid and Ciudad Real or Vitoria de Soria. A feat within reach of very few, in which he invested 20 hours, 20 minutes and 35 seconds. "It's outrageous and you never know if you're going to be able to," he confesses. A race that you can't even train. "My maximum has been half a day, about 12 hours: four at night and, early in the morning, another eight, going to bed in between, of course. In the end, you try to make the body adapt to many hours of exercise and for me it's normal, like an hour for someone else."

Of his courage and discipline his coach can speak well. They have been together for 14 years. Weight work is very important to avoid injury near forty, he says. "Over the years, I have proven that the muscles have to be strong. I don't put much burden, though. I hesitate all those who are going to widen with my little weights. I tell them, 'I'm here to move the machines,'" he laughs.

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE HEAD

Impossible to hold back tears when crossing the finish line. Vibram

The effort becomes more mental than physical. "You never know how your body and, above all, your head is going to react. The weather you will have or the problems that will happen that day with your work or family, because everyone has their life, "he says. That's why he sets goals very close to the road. Think: "Until the next aid station." Go on. "You can't think about it too much, just go doing. Psychology has to be more worked than legs."

Your pillar for being on land is not therapy, meditation or yoga, but your partner. "He is the one who puts up with me, throws me angry if it has to be done, supports me, works on my frustration, seeks my balance ... We've been together for many years." If his life partner didn't understand the high level that competing demands of him, it wouldn't work. "You can't have someone so close who doesn't understand you, because you don't have a partner for that."

Sometimes, however, the results are frustrating. "Things do not go the way you want, you see that you put a lot on your part and give up things for that moment of glory that does not come. And you get disappointed. But I am an athlete and I love it, even if it is sacrificed it also gives me a lot, "he explains.

There are people who joke with him that "what need is there to run 175 kilometers, you're going to destroy yourself". He usually takes it well. "What I don't like so much anymore is when the tone changes and comes from the one who is unable to do it. To those who are serious, I tell them to do what they want with their lives that I will do what they want with mine."

YOUR 'CLEAN' DIET

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Nutrition is also critical. Everything is very measured to reach the calories it needs, because it burns a lot, but it cannot be granted indulgences to recover. "I can't think of frying anything at all. When you've been grilling or steaming for so many years, you get used to it. And, if you adapt, your body is no longer envious of chips or croquettes even if you have them in front of you," he says. He does not fast and the energy bars are always in his hand. "I have to eat every so often, almost all the time. I don't count if it's five times."

And at what point do you decide to stop if there is pain? "It's very, very, very difficult to manage," he insists. Withdrawal is the easiest, he believes. "What comes upon you afterwards, with your own punishment, is worse than stopping. But if I'm bleeding or the pain is unbearable, you have to do it. If, on the other hand, it is a bad day, I am clear that I will crush myself more if I stop, "he is sincere. Sponsorships and support are very complicated. "It has to be a mutual relationship, in which you feel comfortable with the brand that wants to support you and it is also reflected in your values." For Maiora it is vital to feel identified. "It's part of your motivation when it comes to fighting it."

ALWAYS WITHOUT MUSIC

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The Basque goes out alone to run 99% of the time. He also doesn't wear headphones. "I like to train on my own. I am very select with the companies, if any friend counted and who knows how to run and ride a bike. And for me, I would ban music in the mountains," he laughs. "I hate it! And if I had any power I wouldn't allow it in racing. Sometimes it's even dangerous, because people fall and, if you're very motivated with ACDC, you can't help them. Or they ask you for passage and you don't move away because you don't know about it," he criticizes.

He has a collection of mental postcards etched into his retina. "I have raced in the Dolomites, the Alps, in the mountains of Euskadi which is my home, I have my second home in the Pyrenees... I can't choose a favorite place to run."

LOVE OF THE MOUNTAIN

Since she was a child, she was instilled with a love for the mountains. Vibram

He doesn't like the bike so much if he gets on because he can't run. "When I'm not injured and I take the road to climb passes, I enjoy it." As for technical clothing, he has become conformist. "I attach importance to having good shoes, but I don't obsess about wearing the best. I'm comfortable with what I know is going well."

In his free time, "minimum", he slides, does the shopping and cleans the house. "At most, I go for a walk to see the sea a little. But it's scarce, really." She was never linked to a club, but since she was a child they instilled in her a love of the mountains. "We Basques are deeply rooted in the mountains and salt water. We ski, we run, we surf... It's cultural. A union with nature".

She never picked up the board to catch waves. "I have a lot of respect for the sea." He prefers the feeling of infinite freedom that crossing the finish line provides. "Feeling nature and reaching 42 kilometers is great. But in a career as long as this it's incredible. I can't describe that feeling. I'll never forget the Ultras I've finished." And it threatens more.

  • Goal
  • HBPR
  • Running
  • Ultras

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